Arwin Soelaksono

Training for Facilitators, West Sumatera Post-Earthquake Rehabilitation and Reconstruction, 12-15 May 2010

TRAINING FOR FACILITATORS WEST SUMATERA POST-EARTHQUAKE REHABILITATION AND RECONSTRUCTION 12-15 MAY 2010

Eco-Friendly Reconstruction
Shelter Early Recovery Advisor UN-HABITAT Padang, Sumatra Barat arwinsoelaksono@gmail.com

by Arwin Soelaksono

ECO-FRIENDLY RECONSTRUCTION 1

Arwin Soelaksono

Training for Facilitators, West Sumatera Post-Earthquake Rehabilitation and Reconstruction, 12-15 May 2010

Abstract

As part of rebuilding effort following September 30th, 2009, earthquake in West Sumatra, the Government, Society and various Non-Governmental Organization (NGOs), both local and international, launched interventions to help victims of disasters. One form of support is housing reconstruction. Reconstruction and rehabilitation of hundreds of thousands of homes would need a lot of resources including building materials derived from nature. Learning from the cases of Aceh reconstruction, all parties should be wary of the potential environmental damage. Therefore all parties involved in the process of West Sumatra rehabilitation and reconstruction needs to think strategically to balance development efforts with ensuring environmental sustainability. The entire strategic plan must be able to be executed by the whole community and all actors of rehabilitation and reconstruction to protect the environment.

Environmental preservation process is certainly not merely the duty of the government or limited to purely environmental NGOs. But this is a task that must be carried for all parties, old and young, rich and poor, those affected by the disaster and those who are not affected. The facilitator holds the strategic position and is the spearhead in driving the rehabilitation and reconstruction to the right track. This means during this massive reconstruction process, the building must be earthquake-resistant scientifically and at the same time environment is protected.

II. Potential Damage to Environment

If the reconstruction of 140,000 houses were to be done in a normal duration, lets say in 7-10 years duration, most likely the earth and the environment would still be able to bear the negative impacts of this reconstruction process. For example, replanted trees may have already grown big enough to be cut again. But unfortunately, reconstruction of 140,000 houses is planned to be done in 9 months duration only. It is obvious that the speed of the earth and the environment to restore itself is much slower than reconstruction speed. And the more worrisome thing is that when environment is damaged, self-restoration will be even slower. Forests may become barren fields and then landslides follow. Below are descriptions of potential environmental damages from rehabilitation and reconstruction activities:

I. Introduction

Powerful earthquake measuring 7.6 in Richter scale rocked West Sumatra province on September 30th, 2009. The earthquake destroyed hundreds of thousands of houses and other public infrastructures. Based on assessments, 114,483 houses were heavily damaged, 67,182 houses were moderately damaged, and 68,913 houses were slightly damaged [1]. To help those affected by the disaster, the government will provide a stimulus package in the amount of IDR 15,000,000 for heavily damaged houses and IDR 10,000,000 for moderately damaged houses thorough POKMAS mechanism [2]. As for lightly damaged houses, government is to provide direct cash stimulus in the amount of Excessive Use of Timber Threatens Environmental Sustainability IDR 1,000,000 for each damaged house. Reconstruction of 52,637 temporary shelters plus 140,000 houses during 2010 will certainly requires more timber than currently available in productive At the moment, there are 25 local and international NGOs who are forests. At the same time, because of high demand, the price of timber would committed to support reconstruction of 52,637 temporary shelters. With regards go up and consequently, creates more incentive for people to cut more timber to permanent housing, there are 6 NGOs committing to reconstruct 2,902 for profit. houses. On the government part, the target for 2010 is to complete the The situation is exacerbated when many parties involved in the disbursement of cash stimuli for 140,000 victims of disaster whose houses are reconstruction process use red brick. Red brick making process requires heavily and moderately damaged. considerable energy during its 3-days burning process. Scarcity of timber during the reconstruction process that leads to It is expected that throughout the earthquake affected regions in the West deforestation would be one of major issues to be solved. This must be dealt Sumatra there will be large-scale development work. One can imagine how not only by governments but also by all stakeholders of reconstruction, many trees will be cut, how much cement, iron and steel and other materials including members of POKMAS. will be used in this massive reconstruction. Not to mention the effects of construction waste. All of these are potentially causing environmental damage with regards to soil, air and water.

ECO-FRIENDLY RECONSTRUCTION 2

Arwin Soelaksono

Training for Facilitators, West Sumatera Post-Earthquake Rehabilitation and Reconstruction, 12-15 May 2010

Pollution or Degradation of Water Quality and Quantity due to Developing the Paradigm to Realize that the Main Source of Materials
When building a house is complimented by a toilet and also a new septic tank, POKMAS members need to be empowered to use existing materials from and its installation does not meet requirement standards, such as leak-proof, destructed/heavily damaged houses. Whenever possible, they must reuse the leak can contaminate ground water. Then the pollution may continue to existing materials to minimize the need for new materials. For example, door wells, rivers, and swamps [3]. This in the end will bring ecological damage to frames or window frame as well as tin roof may be reusable by POKMAS surrounding areas and ultimately degrade the quality of health of members. communities. When POKMAS members are empowered to reuse and recycle, the needs In addition, as the whole process of rehabilitation and reconstruction is for new materials will decreased and consequently the use of natural resources conducted in massive scale, there will be huge needs for clean water. Brick will be minimized. producing kilns, brick installation in walls, and concrete mix production all need a lot of water. Moreover, water is also needed for machine operation, Reusing T-Shelter Materials construction workers daily usage, and so forth. This is exacerbated when For members of POKMAS who received T-Shelter assistance from NGOs, they more people constructing new wells. should reuse the t-shelter materials rather than discarding them. When unassembling T-shelter, care should be used to ensure that all materials are Pollution to Soil reusable for house reconstruction. Massive construction works may contaminate the soil if the construction waste The more interesting idea is that for POKMAS members to use t-shelter is not well managed. Materials that cannot be processed naturally will wholly as permanent house. In this way, funding support from government contaminate the soil and reduce productivity of the land. It may also happen can be used for other purposes such as room improvement/renovation. that some people utilize hazardous materials such as asbestos and, direct or indirectly, harm the communities in the area. Preventing Excessive Use of Natural Materials Construction process will definitely use natural materials such as timber, sand, stone, etc. But there are limits of using them. POKMAS members need to be III. Role of Facilitators in Shaping POKMAS Mindset empowered to see whether such use is excessive to ensure that the Before the reconstruction process is carried out, the facilitators have the exploitation does not harm ecosystem. opportunity to shape the mindset of members of POKMAS. During program Violation of this code of conduct can be resolved in accordance with rules socialization, in addition to providing coaching on financial and technical issues and regulations as well as with kinship customs. But for preventive measures, of construction, they may emphasize the importance of environmental POKMAS members must be trained to use different kind of materials. The sustainability. diversity will reduce dependence on one type of material. The things that require attention of each POKMAS member and should be understood as a shared responsibility can be summarized as follows:

Reconstruction

is Their Own Houses

Removing Apathy Towards Deforestation

IV. Coaching Stage in Reconstruction Process

Throughout massive reconstruction process, many parties will tend to ignore the practices that may harm environment. These practices may include the use illegal timber, use of septic tanks that do not comply with standards, and so forth. Each member of POKMAS should reject the practices that can put their lives at risk in the long term.

Facilitators are expected to assist POKMAS during reconstruction of permanent houses. However, the assistance should not only be provided during actual construction process alone, but throughout the whole process. This process can be divided into three major phases, namely the planning phase, implementation phase and the closure or completion phase [4].

Planning Phase

ECO-FRIENDLY RECONSTRUCTION 3

Arwin Soelaksono

Training for Facilitators, West Sumatera Post-Earthquake Rehabilitation and Reconstruction, 12-15 May 2010

During this phase, facilitators assist POKMAS in planning the construction of the house. Aside from providing coaching on technical side to create earthquake resistant house, facilitators should also direct attention of POKMAS members to environmental issues: Advising house owner regarding materials to be used. In this case, there are two things that require attention, namely the reuse of existing materials from destructed house and the diversity of materials used. House design needs to have as many as openings for lightings and ventilations. Rechecking the ecological conditions of surrounding area to ensure it is safe from soil and ground water pollution, and so forth. Encouraging POKMAS members to discuss and agree upon locations for garden, solid waste, poultry breeding, etc. Ensuring the availability of clean water in the area. If possible, POKMAS members should build communal toilet. But starting from design phase, the toilet must be designed in such a way that it prevents gender based violence. Attention should also be paid to availability of fuel for cooking in order to prevent excessive use of wood for fuel.

Advising POKMAS members to use clean water wisely. Constructing rain water harvesting system. POKMAS members should be empowered to utilize rain water by creating a system for harvesting it. At first, the system can be piloted at some houses, and then if successful, can be replicated at other houses. Preventing ground water pollution, especially by ensuring that septic tanks are leak proof. Drainage system must be protected during reconstruction process.

Closure/Completion Phase

At this stage, POKMAS members have already constructed their houses. But it does not mean that the work is over. Facilitators still need to remind the POKMAS members regarding: If any, closure of toilet which is no longer in use. Plan for greening the new house. Facilitators should sit together with POKMAS members to discuss a balanced approach to livelihood vis--vis environmental sustainability. Follow up plan for recovering ex-temporary shelter area.

Implementation Phase

V. Conclusion
Reconstruction process of earthquake resistant houses, however massive the scale is, does not have to put the environment at risk. All members of community are responsible for preventing environmental damage. There are many ways to do this but the most important thing is shaping the mindset of POKMAS and other stakeholders to pay attention to environmental sustainability.

At this stage, the facilitators are expected to make directives that encourage members of the POKMAS to pay attention to environmental sustainability. In unison with actual construction phase, the following matters require POKMAS members attention:

Rechecking the quality of second hand materials. Not all second hand materials are reusable, but many of them can be transformed for different References use, for example, unassembled metal bars can be transformed into [1] Action Plan of Post-Earthquake Rehabilitation and Reconstruction in West window frame, fence, and so forth. Sumatera for 2009-2011. [2] Housing Technical Guidelines, TPT (JUKNIS), April 2010. During land clearing, it is advisable to minimize plant cutting. The [3] Martin, Ernst-Jan, Widodo, Hendro, Sustainable Sanitation: Systems That common practice is to completely remove all plants and trees during land Comply With The Building Codes. USAID-ESP, July 2006. clearing. This is very unfortunate because some trees should be left to [4] C. Kelly Emergency Shelter Environmental Impact Assessment and Action become shade trees. Checklist Identifying Critical Environmental Considerations in Shelter Site Selection, Construction, Management and Decommissioning by Integrating Facilitators should provide inputs on waste management, especially Critical Environmental Issues into Emergency Shelter Cluster Activities construction waste. There will be a lot of waste from construction Project ProAct and CARE International Emergency Shelter Environmental activities and it will take facilitators creativity to maximize the utilization Impact Assessment and Action Checklist Revision 3 December 2008. of second hand materials. Translation to English by Emil Salim (RN-UNRC)

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